He’d risen when she walked over, and shrugged in response to her question. “I’m working at the community center, supervising the summer sports program. It’s okay, but I would just as soon be back at school. How about you?”
“I’m ready to get back to work, myself. Although I am helping a group who want to start a community theater program.”
“No kidding? Sit down and tell me all about it. Unless you’re meeting someone here?”
“No. I’d love to join you.”
He held out her chair for her, then took his own again. A ponytailed blond teenager who’d been in both their classes shyly approached to take their orders. Joe ordered coffee, and Jamie requested a strawberry milk shake. When Joe confessed that he’d always had a secret yen to try acting, she immediately started trying to recruit him to audition for the play. So far, not many men had expressed interest in the group, and she needed to round up some likely prospects.
Someone put money in the jukebox and selec
ted several rocking Elvis Presley numbers. Jamie and Joe scooted their chairs closer together so they could hear each other over “Jailhouse Rock.”
“You really should try it, Joe,” she urged, leaning encouragingly toward him. “It’s a lot of fun.”
“I’m afraid I’ll make a fool of myself.”
She reached out to pat his hand, giving him a bracing smile. “As director, I can assure you I would never let that happen.”
“Hi, Jamie!”
She recognized the eager young voice immediately. She turned in her seat, spotting Sam a few feet away. “Well, hi, Sammy. How’s it going?” she asked, opening her arms.
He launched himself into them for a hug. “I’m getting ice cream. Chocolate,” he announced happily.
“Yum. Where’s—oh, there you are, Trev. Hi.” Jamie gave him the warm smile she reserved just for him.
He didn’t smile back at her. He glanced coldly from her to Joe and then back again. And then he nodded, as if she were someone he didn’t know all that well. “Hello, Jamie.”
“Where’s Abbie?” she asked, eyeing Trevor thoughtfully.
“She’s at Grandma’s house,” Sam volunteered. “Daddy and me are having a guys’ night out.”
“I’m sure you’re both enjoying that. Joe, have you met Trevor McBride and his son, Sam?”
“No, I haven’t.” Joe smiled politely and held out a hand. “Joe Cooper. Nice to meet you.”
It might have been the briefest handshake in history, Jamie thought, surprised by Trevor’s behavior. His acknowledgment of Joe’s greeting was only marginally civil. “We’ll leave you two to enjoy your desserts. Come along, Sam.”
Jamie was still frowning after Trevor in bewilderment when Joe spoke again. “Good friend?” he asked casually.
She turned her gaze back to him. “Yes.”
“He, uh, didn’t look too happy to see us together.”
Forcing a smile, she shook her head. “He’s probably just had a rough day. So, are you going to audition for the play or not?”
“You really think I can do it?”
“I’m sure you can.”
They continued the conversation for a few minutes more, and then Jamie surreptitiously glanced around in search of Trevor and Sam. She didn’t see them. Apparently, they had gotten their ice cream to go.
She wondered what Trevor’s problem had been. He couldn’t really have been annoyed that she’d been having ice cream with Joe, could he? If so, they needed to have a long talk.
WEDNESDAY MORNING started out badly enough for Trevor, but it had turned into a nightmare when his father collapsed in his office. They had been talking as they always did about their cases, and there had been no indication that anything was wrong until Caleb started to rise. And then he grabbed his chest, groaned and folded to the floor, his face as white as his snowy shirt.
Trevor practically leaped over the desk in his desperation to get to his father. “Dad? Dad!”